Here’s the second chapter, enjoy~

***

Chapter Two

"So, you found a good location?" asked by Mylie.

They are together for the scheduled weekly meeting for the discussion of their business venture. Each of them was a.s.signed a task so that their business will be established as soon as possible. They always met each other every Wednesday eve to give updates about their task.

Ivy was a.s.signed to feasibility study and location. She told them about the ancestral house she saw.

"Yeah. And I'm telling you, that place is truly perfect for Dreams Cafe. The ground and second floor halls and verandah will be the customer s.p.a.ces. The rest, we can take a room each for whatever we want to do with it. The largest room there was big enough to be Lexie's photography studio," she said to convince them.

Lexie sat beside her. "How did you know the number of rooms? Have you inspected it from the inside?"

"Not yet. I circled it from the outside then counted the rooms. Exactly six. Four for us then two offices for operations."

Issa spoke up. "You know, Ivy, I've always trusted your instincts so if you said it’s perfect, I believe you. However, if that house was old, won't the renovations be costly?"

She shook her head. "I think it won't be. Even from the outside, you will see that the house was well-maintained. The lawn was trimmed and the garden was really fine and clean."

"Eh, but is it available for rent?" Mylie threw the most practical question.

Ivy sat with her back straight. "I already investigated the owner. The house was unused for more than fifteen years. Not used and not for rent. Now, I only have to know how to contact the owners and convince them to let us rent the place."

Lexie swallowed one of the tarts made by Mylie. The latter was trying to create foods which can be added to the menu of Dreams Cafe. "Mmm… this is really good, Mylie." She said before turning to Ivy. "So who's the owner of the house?"

"Domingo was the family name of the owner and the one responsible for the family properties was Jeffrey Domingo." She answered.

"All right then," Issa said. "Talk to that Jeffrey. My G.o.d, I can't wait to have this thing started!"

"I will." She agreed.

***

Several days later, she realized it's easier said than done.

For all the places that could be rented, why did she become obsessed with that place? It would be good if that Jeffrey is a fine talker. But on the day when G.o.d poured sn.o.bbishness to the world, aside from being the first to wake up, he also brought a pail with him to catch some more.

"Miss Veneracion, how many times do I have to tell you the house is not for rent? Please, stop wasting your time and money calling for me."

"Mr. Domingo, we have put together a very generous offer. I think you will find that it makes perfect sense to let us rent the place. If only you will hear us first before you decide."

She heard his sigh from the other line. Maybe it's because he felt that she doesn't plan to stop bothering him about it. It's already her fifth time calling him using different telephone lines.

"Okay, I'll give you fifteen minutes to explain to me that generous and logical offer you've been talking about. Make sure to be at my office at exactly twelve noon. If you won't be here by then, forget it."

She glanced at her watch, it's eleven thirty. She was sure  he said that while thinking it's impossible for her to be there within thirty minutes. But what he didn't know is that she's only at the ground floor of his building. In no time, she reached the fifty-fourth floor where his office is located.

The guy came to see her at the reception area. He scanned her from head, down to her Lulu Tan-Gan knitted top, slacks and to her feet wearing two-inch high-heeled sandals.

"Miss Veneracion, I must admit I am impressed. I don't know how you arrived this fast."

"Thank you, Mr. Domingo, for finally agreeing to see me," she replied formally.

Ivy was the one who insisted this meeting. However, now that her request was fulfilled she can't help feeling slightly nervous. This feeling is not normal for her. She's supposed to be used to meeting bigger business tyc.o.o.ns and executives.

Because he was very mean to her when conversing over the phone, she expected to see a middle-aged businessman, wearing thick eyegla.s.ses and boring black business suit. However, what she saw at his office was a tall man, wearing maong pants and sports jacket. He actually looked more like a motocross racer than a businessman.

For a moment she tried to ponder if he's really handsome or if it's his aura of a guy who's confident to himself that makes him good-looking. She decided that he is really handsome but with the addition of the confidence of someone who grew up believing that the world was his for the taking…

Wait a minute…

This was her first time meeting him. Why was she busy creating opinions about this person?

"Are you done?" he blurted.

"Huh?"

"I'm asking you if you're finished making inventory about me."

Her cheeks became warm. Of all the self-absorbed, presumptuous jerks… "I was just thinking that you're not what I was expecting."

"I see. And what exactly did you expect?"

How is she going to answer that? She immediately shifted the topic. "I only have a little time to explain our offer. I don't want to waste that."

He shrugged. "All right then. Let's go to my office."

She followed him and entered the modern offices. From what she knows, the business of this man revolves around property and a.s.set management. They pa.s.sed by several departments before arriving at his office.

"Please sit down." He ordered.

"Thank you." She replied.

"Okay. You have fifteen minutes to explain why I should let you disturb a slumbering house to convert into a coffee shop."

"It's not an ordinary coffee shop, Mr. Domingo. Dreams Cafe is a lifestyle cafe. We want to create a place where people like you who are tired from their hectic pace with their whole day of stressful work can find a place of rest. It's going to be haven for career people, of those who are searching for rest because of their fast-paced life outside.We will not only serve comfort food and the best coffees. There are corners for those people who want to read and there are places with good illumination for who those who are interested in drawing. We will provide laptop stations for writers and a warm enough surroundings for those who simply want to catch up with their family and friends."

Jeffrey eyed her while slowly caressing his chin, as if he's thinking deeply.

She continued. "Don't worry for the house. We'll take care of it. We will allot money for maintenance. We can try a five-year lease. That's enough time for us to regain our investments. We will pay for the first year in advance. We won't change anything in the house without your permission. After all, there are not many furnishings there aside from the bedding of each room and chandeliers and paintings, that is why there is no antique for us to damage."

The man's forehead creased. "How did you know those details?"

"I did my research." She replied. But in truth, the research she's talking about was the few hours of gossiping with the gardener whom she treated with snacks the last time.

He shook his head. "I'm sorry that you had to go through so much trouble but the answer is no."

"Mr. Domingo, I wish you think more of our offer. I will leave this to you."

She tried to give him the folder containing the plan, the amount they are willing to pay and her contact numbers.

"I don't need to look over that, Miss Veneracion. I won't change my mind."

After he said that, she feels so desperate. She frankly faced him. "Look, Mr. Domingo, why can't you even consider this? The house will only keep getting older and disintegrate, like the other old houses with no occupants. What is it really for you? For the last fifteen years, you only visited it thrice. Your company holds fifteen thousand four hundred eighty six properties in twenty-two cities in Luzon, twelve cities in Visayas and ten towns in Mindanao. You have four billion turn-over for the whole year, two point five billion of which is at Manila. What of an idled twenty million property? It won't even reach one percent of what you are working on."

He glanced at her with a renewed interest and slight doubt. "Also a result of your study?"

"Nope! I read it on the whiteboard when we pa.s.sed by the sales department."

"Miss Veneracion, we didn't stop at the sales department, we only pa.s.sed by. How did you remember all the figures you said?"

Because he was looking at her closely like he's digging what's inside her head, she answered in haste. "I can easily remember things."

"Really?" he questioned in a way as if he does not believe it.

"Yes." She said. He handed her a paper with names and numbers. She lightly looked over it and then handed it back to the man. "Why are you making me read this?"

"You said you can easily remember?"

"It's true."

He was glancing at the paper before he raised his head. "How many was the total land area of properties of Mr. Larry Ovejas at…"

"Antipolo," she replied before he even finished. "It's two thousand one hundred fifty-two square meters. Miss Mahalyn Salorsano has a beachfront property in Calatagan which measures two point five hectares. Georgette Gonzales, in Dumaguete, two thousand five hundred sixty-seven square meters and in Palawan, one thousand six hundred thirty-four square meters."

The man had his jaw dropping.

"You have a photographic memory," he stated after gaining back his self.

She gave him a nod.

Yes, she was gifted with a brain which can remember everything she saw, read and heard. Well, at least, everything before she became seven years old. She no longer remember anything that happened to her before that age.

"Very well for you," in the end Jeffrey said. "But my answer to your proposal is still unchanged. Thank you so much, Miss Veneracion."

The maiden knew when she was being dismissed. But she still need to try again. She still has one more trait. She does not accept defeat so fast. She was a sore loser. And in her mind that house was already the Dreams Cafe.

"If there is a way to make you agree, my numbers are inside the folder. Just call me. Maybe there is still something I can do for you - for Dreams Cafe." She said.

Note:

Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao – The geographical divisions of the Philippines are the three island groups of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Luzon and Mindanao are both named after the largest island in their respective groups, while the Visayas (also the Visayan Islands) is an archipelago. (copied and pasted from wikipedia, lol)

There were many provinces and cities mentioned but I won’t elaborate anymore.